Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Work in respect of the national cervical screening laboratory at the Coombe is under way. It will take time before it will have sufficiency to offer full national coverage, although I would point out - and we have to be objective as best as we can - that Dr. Scally did not find, in respect of the particular lab, that there was a higher or lower incidence than elsewhere. Be that as it may, it is desirable that we would build up the expertise and education in Ireland and that, similar to BreastCheck, we would recruit the proper experts and personnel over time and have this as not only a national centre but also ensure that it will have the capacity to cover the entire programme. That is the objective.

I already articulated that there should be an audit because audits inform best practice. They are part of the broader approach to ensuring that the programme is effective and is benchmarked against international peer review and international best practice and standards.

I want the legislation concluded by the end of the year. We will work might and main to make sure that happens.

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